Myths and Facts about Substance Abuse You Should Know About

Myths and Facts about Substance Abuse You Should Know About

With so many facts and myths surrounding substance abuse, it’s essential for everyone to know the truth. Whether you’re struggling with something on your own or you have a loved one you’re looking to help, knowing the facts will assist in transitioning your life to a better future.

Making a change is one of the most challenging steps when dealing with addiction. And while a an addiction treatment center might not always be the go-to option, it’s an effective source to seek information and treatment. At times, it’s nice to know the facts before taking steps to get better.

Throughout this article, we’ll discuss the truth. We hope that with this knowledge, you’ll find it easier to understand what addiction is and isn’t. Allow us to bypass the myths surrounding addiction and provide you with the facts.

Substance Abuse Treatment Facts

Addiction is all too common throughout the United States. While some of the forms of dependence seem rather innocent, others are more highly frowned upon. Generally speaking, people don’t take into account how both illegal and legal abuse result in high expenses.

Even though marijuana and alcohol are generally socially accepted, this doesn’t negate the fact that they’re significant contributors to the expenses of the United States. While street drugs including heroin and cocaine cost the country money, the expenditures in comparison to alcohol might surprise you.

The United States spends around $181 billion each year as a result of illicit drug use.

The country is spending around $235 billion each year on costs associated with excessive alcohol use.

With health, legal, criminal, and personal problems that result from not seeking treatment, it’s easy to see how these costs can grow fast.

Do you or a loved one need help? Are substances adversely impacting your life in one way or another? Make the call now.

Substance Detoxing Facts

Detoxing is an essential part of overcoming addiction. That’s why this is usually one of the first steps on the path to sobriety. Here are some facts to dispel the myths of the detoxing stage:

Before you start drug rehabilitation, you’ll need to go through drug detox. Ensuring all of the drugs are gone from your body is necessary before getting the right treatment and counseling to keep you clean.

While drug detox is essential, you’ll need to participate in drug rehabilitation afterward. Although ridding one’s body of drugs is ideal, simple detoxification generally results in relapse if it isn’t followed with rehab.

When you’re detoxing, your body is craving the substance it has become dependent on. Physical symptoms and self-destructive or aggressive behavior can accompany a detox due to the process being difficult and uncomfortable. But some more intense side effects have been known to persist as an addict goes through withdrawal.

The amount of time a detox takes will vary. Usually, it’s a two- to three-day process. But ultimately, the type and amount of the substance, as well as the length of time the substance was used, could impact how long the detox takes.

Drug Abuse Facts: Criteria Showing Escalation

Drug abuse isn’t always apparent to the person who’s using. While family members and friends might point out the problem, denial is often easy when someone isn’t observing his or her own behavior. Knowing about how the abuse of drugs is diagnosed could shed some light on what one is experiencing.

The following is a list of diagnostic criteria used to show how far the substance abuse problem has gone. Addicts with two or three criteria have a “mild” disorder. If someone has four or five, their disorder is viewed as “moderate.” When six or more of these symptoms are relevant, the diagnosis is “severe.”

The substance is being ingested in higher doses over a longer period than the user originally intended.

The person continually wants to cut down or control the use of the substance or has been unsuccessful in efforts to do so.

A lot of time is spent getting the substance, using it, or recovering from the effects.

The person has a strong desire to use their substance of choice.

Consistent substance use impacts the person’s ability to complete obligations regarding their work, school, or home life.

Even though there are persisting or recurring social or interpersonal issues that addiction is causing or exacerbating, the person’s substance use continues.

The individual gives up or reduces participation in important social, occupational, or recreational activities because of their use.

The person continues using the substance even in situations that are physically hazardous as a result of using.

Even though the person understands the physical and psychological issues that have probably been caused or exacerbated by the addiction, the person continues using.

The person needs more of the substance to achieve their desired level of intoxication or effect.

Withdrawal symptoms persist when the person abstains from using the substance.

Alcohol Abuse Facts

Facts about alcohol abuse are often ignored because this substance is legal. Even though the substance is no longer prohibited, the impact alcohol can have on one’s life is immense. Here are some truths about alcohol abuse:

Binge drinking is when a person consumes a lot of alcohol over a short period. With men, this type of drinking means 5 or more drinks throughout 2 hours while women only need 4 or more.

Alcohol abuse results in long-term health problems. People drinking in excess have a greater chance of suffering from problems including cardiovascular disease, depression, dementia, liver disease, cancer, and many other issues.

Alcohol poisoning can occur as a result of drinking too much. This short-term consequence can result in a loss of consciousness, coma, or even death.